ITARY CHARACTER,
HABIT, DEPORTMENT,
COURTESY AND DISCIPLINE
STEWART
MILITARY
CHARACTER, HABIT, DE
PORTMENT, COURTESY
AND DISCIPLINE
BY
CAPTAIN M. B. STEWART
UNITED STATES ARMY
Prepared under the direction of the Academic Board of
Instruction for use in the Training School,
Massachusetts Volunteer
Militia.
Copyright 191$
by
M. B. STEWART
THE COLLEGIATE PRESS
GEORGE BANTA PUBLISHING COMPANY
MENASHA, Wis.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER I. Military Character: Importance, Definition;
Private Character: Effect on the Public; Analysis of
Military Qualities: Patriotism, How Evidenced, Mili-
tary Obligations; Education and Training: Extent,
How Attained; Leadership: Will Power, Willingness
to Assume Responsibility, Knowledge of Human Na-
ture, Courage, Physical Courage, Moral Courage;
Military Character, How Acquired ; A Motto 1
CHAPTER II. Military Habit and Deportment: Defini-
tion, How Evidenced, Bearing, Personal Appearance,
Military Courtesy, Discipline, Order and System, De-
votion to Duty; The Habit of Loyalty, The Habit of
Being Patriotic 25
CHAPTER III. Military Courtesy: Definition, The Spirit
of Military Courtesy, Origin, Importance, Source,
Regulations, Position of Attention, Removal of Hat,
The Salute, General Requirements in Saluting, How
Rendered, The Salute with the Hand, The Sabre Sa-
lute, The Rifle Salute, The Salute Indoors, The Sa-
lute on Official Occasions, Whom to Salute, The Sa-
lute to the Color, The Star Spangled Banner, Salutes
by Armed Bodies, Miscellaneous, The Customs of the
Service, The Form of Address, The Use of the Third
Person, Titles, Calling, Miscellaneous 34
CHAPTER IV. Military Discipline: The Object of Mili-
tary Discipline, How Evidenced, How Attained, Dis-
ciplinary Training; Discipline, How Promoted 56
281995
CHAPTER I.
MILITARY CHARACTER.
Importance. The subject of character in gener-
al is one whose importance scarcely demands dis-
cussion among educated readers. It is sufficient to
say that character is of vital importance in every
phase of life, and that it is the hall-mark by which
we judge individuals and their various groupings
and determine their value and standing in society.
The character of the individual is manifested by the
standard of honor which he maintains in his rela-
tions with others; that of a group, by the standard of
honor which the members of the group set for it, in
other words, by the accepted custom of the group.
In setting this standard, the character of each of the
members exercises a certain influence, but once the
standard has been fixed upon, it is necessary that the
individual standard of the members conform to
that of the group. The closer the association and
the higher the standard of the group, the greater
becomes the necessity for individual conformity.
For this reason, the subject of character, as evi-
denced by standards of honor and conduct, is of
greater importance in the military service than in
any other walk of life.
In civil life, the grouping of individuals is
largely voluntary and without restraint. Men se-
lect those with whom they wish to associate in busi-
ness and, in the nature of things, men of similar ed-
ucational qualifications, interests and manner of life
2 Mil it cry Character. Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
thus become grouped together. When the char-
acter of the group, or of any of its members, is not
pleasing to any one of them, he is at liberty to with-
draw from it at any moment he chooses. To a cer-
tain extent, this is true even of the employee. He
has the privilege of selecting the class of employ-
ment he prefers and those for whom he will labor.
If this be not always strictly true, he is at liberty
to sever his relations with his employers whenever
they cease to be agreeable to him.
In the military service, the association is volun-
tary only in the initial act of entering it, and, having
entered it, the individual is not at liberty to withdraw
until the period of his contract has expired. The men
thus associated are drawn from practically every
walk of life, with little regard to their previous so-
cial condition, occupation or surroundings, except
for an effort to find out whether or not they may
have been respectable and honest. The result is
that the army is made up of men who, in the begin-
ning, differ widely in education, tastes and habits of
life. These men are organized into groups, the ef-
ficiency of which depends upon the harmonious,
united effort the teamwork of all of the individ-
uals composing the group. The nature of the work
required of these groups demands not only a uni-
form effort on the part of each member of the
group, but that this effort be put forth with a con-
stancy and reliability that will inspire mutual con-
fidence. To a large extent this condition is brought
about by means of military regulations, training
and discipline but much also depends upon cultiva-
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 3
ting in each man a standard of honor and conduct
which conforms to the requirements of the military
standard.
The men who are associated in the various groups
of the militia do not, in the beginning differ as
widely in character as do those in the regular service.
For each group, the recruits are selected from the
same general circle and the character of each is some-
what known before he is enlisted. In this way, men
of somewhat similar characters are brought togeth-
er in the various groups. On the other hand, they
are not associated together to the same extent as in
the regular forces ; the compulsion to similiar stand-
ards of honor and conduct is not as great; the op-
portunity for arriving at the necessary teamwork is
less; hence the necessity for cultivating in each the
desired character is equally as great as in the regular
forces.
It is therefore important to all men in the military
service to understand clearly what constitutes the
desirable military character.
Definition. Military character may be defined
as being the sum of those qualities which distinguish
the military man from the non-military man; the
qualities which attach to a man as the holder of a
military office.
With this definition in mind, our first concern
should be to ascertain what qualities go to make up
the sum of the military character, and the question
is best answered by an analytical examination of
the character of well-known military men who have
been generally regarded as satisfactory types.
4 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
In the search for such types, we must not permit
ourselves to become confused between the satisfac-
tory type of military character and the successful
type of military character. The one is not depend-
ent upon the other. The satisfactory military char-
acter may or may not have been successful, or the
reverse, although, other things being equal, the two
would in general go together.
In the history of the United States, two men
stand out as types of the satisfactory military char-
acter. They are General George Washington and
General Robert E. Lee. Both were men of the
ideal military character ; one met with military suc-
cess, the other did not.
In the analysis of these two characters, we find
identical qualities. Considering the military side
of their characters, they were both, first of all, en-
dowed with a high sense of patriotism, or devotion
to the causes they respectively represented. For
their day, they were both men of highest military at-
tainments; both were examples of unexcelled lead-
ership ; both men of unquestionable moral and phy-
sical courage.
Considering the non-military side of their char-
acters, we find them both to be men of the highest
sense of honesty, justice and decency; both were
dignified, god-fearing men who inspired the respect
and admiration of all law-abiding men. President
Jefferson said of Washington, "His integrity was
the most pure, his justice the most inflexible, I have
ever known. He was indeed a wise, a good, a great
man." Benjamin Hill, speaking of General Lee, said,
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 5
"He was a public officer without vices, a private
citizen without wrong, a neighbor without reproach,
a Christian without hypocrisy, and a man without
guilt." In brief both of these men were possessed
of those qualities in which we naturally repose res-
pect, admiration and confidence.
From the foregoing analysis, it would appear
that few desirable qualities were lacking in the char-
acter of either of these men, and the conclusion
would seem to be that the ideal type of military
character may well include every manly quality. A
well known diplomat, Signor des Planches, has giv-
en his conclusion in these words, "I propose that a
perfectly good soldier is almost necessarily a good
citizen." To this we can only add that, in addition
to the qualities of the ideal citizen, the soldier should
possess certain other special qualities. For example,
an American Jesuit is an American and something
more something special. Likewise, the soldier is
a citizen and something more. He is a citizen who
is, in addition, a specialist in the profession of arms.
It is hardly possible to select from the whole list
of desirable human qualities any certain few and to
say of them that they constitute the sum which goes
to make up the ideal character of any certain type.
However it is possible to select certain of these qual-
ities and to say that, without them, a certain type of
character is not complete. Thus it is with the mili-
tary character. In every walk of life, a man must
be actuated by some positive motive ; he must have
the courage to initiate and carry his undertaking to
completion ; he must have the necessary education
6 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
and training to go about it intelligently; and he
must possess a personality which will lend to, rather
than detract from, his success. The military man
should be inspired by an active patriotism which will
impel him, if necessary, to sacrifice his comfort and
interests to the benefit of his country, he should pos-
sess the physical courage to face personal danger
and the moral courage to assume responsibility for
the lives of others; he mtist have a knowledge of
military art and training in order that his efforts
may be directed to proper ends ; he must possess the
qualities of a leader in order to employ the efforts
of others to the best advantage.
Private Character. Before proceeding to a more
detailed discussion of the essential qualities of the
military character, it should be understood that the
military qualities cannot be wholly divorced from
the non-military qualities, for w r hile the private
character does not necessarily effect the man's mili-
tary ability, it does, however, effect his military ef-
ficiency. For example: a man w r hose private con-
duct is not exemplary cannot fully command the
respect, hence the loyalty, of his men. To this ex-
tent, he will be failing in one of the great qualities
of the successful commander, namely, leadership,
Even in the minor details of military duty he will
be at a disadvantage. He cannot administer dis-
cipline properly. If his moral sense is such that
his own conduct is improper, he will in all probabil-
ity overlook similar lapses in those under his com-
mand, or though inclined not to overlook them, he
cannot in justice punish his men for doing no more
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 7
than he himself does. In other words, he can only
measure the conduct of his men by the standard of
his own conduct.
The private character of that brilliant soldier,
Napoleon, would seem in a way to disprove the fore-
going statement, but it must be remembered that he
lived in an age whose moral code was not of the
highest. Moreover, his private character was not
known to his followers, in fact it was not fully
known beyond a circle of intimates until much lat-
er. He was credited, and rightly, by the great mass
of the people with being a blazing patriot. He met
with overwhelming success and this success blinded
the people to all else, with the result that they at-
tributed to him, their leader, the highest of all qual-
ities and motives.
Effect on the Public. Another and an impor-
tant consideration is to be found in the manner in
which misconduct on the part of a military man is
reflected in the esteem in which the military estab-
lishment is held by the people. People esteem a
man's profession to the extent that he, by his con-
duct, forces them to esteem it, and he will have dif-
ficulty in convincing them that the institution he
represents is any better in its principles than are the
principles that he himself practices. Moreover,
the military man must always bear in mind that his
profession is not one which enjoys popular esteem
except during the unfortunate periods when it is
called into active service. As a rule, the people
do not appreciate the necessity of a peace-time
military establishment and are apt to resent it as a
8 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
more or less wasteful expense. Such being the case
they are quick to criticize faults in the military man
which they- would overlook in the civilian, and un-
less the military man would bring disrepute upon his
profession, he must model his conduct most care-
fully.
Analysis of Military Qualities. Having decided
upon the qualities which are essential to the
military character, a brief discussion of each is nec-
essary to a complete understanding of the subject.
Patriotism. Patriotism may be defined as being
the love or esteem one feels for his native or adopt-
ed country and, like all other sentiments, it is best
made known by the attitude and conduct of the one
who cherishes it. Patriotism naturally assumes dif-
ferent forms in different individuals. In one, it
may be merely an admiration for the country and
for the principles which the country represents; in
another, it may take the form of a genuine, though
selfish, interest in the country's welfare on account
of the benefit conferred by citizenship in the coun-
try; in another, it may evidence itself by an active
interest in every phase of the country's welfare, its
dignity, its integrity, its wealth and its security.
When this active interest reaches the proportions
of a devotion which impels the individual to make
self-sacrifices for the benefit of his country, the true
patriotism has been developed.
We ordinarily think of patriotism as implying
something heroic, of involving courage, fortitude
and sacrifice of self, even of life, but few men are
ever called upon to give such evidence of their de-
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 9
votion to their country. However, every man may
be called upon, in his public or his private capacity,
to give evidence to his patriotism every day of his
life.
How Evidenced. In his private life, the average
man may be frequently tempted by self interest to
do things which are unlawful or which, if they are
not actually unlawful, are of such a nature as to
stamp the one who does them as a man of question-
able character, one who indulges in sharp practices,
one who thinks of the law only as a barrier over
which he must not step. One such character in a
community ordinarily harms only himself, but the
presence of many such in a community, especially
if they possess wealth and power, will eventually
reflect upon the honesty and integrity of the entire
community's reputation. The reputation of a
country is but the average of the reputation of the
communities which compose it. A country be-
comes possessed of a reputation for lawlessness, dis-
honesty and untrustworthiness only when the peo-
ple, presumably on account of their own individ-
ual characters, permit their representatives to give
it such a character.
True patriotism, therefore, demands of a citizen
a proper conception of and obedience to the laws of
the country and a manner of life in accordance with
those laws.
Again, when the average man has cast his ballot
for a public officer, he feels that he has done his full
duty as a citizen. Thereafter he is content to per-
mit this representative to administer the affairs of
10 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
his office properly or improperly as he may choose,
or, if they be not properly administered, to feel that
it is the duty of someone else to see that matters are
corrected. The falseness of such an attitude may
be illustrated by the probable action of the same man
should he happen to be a stockholder in a business
concern. Having assisted in electing the officers and
directors to carry on the business of the concern, he
exercises as much watchfulness over their work as
is possible and, if their administration is dishonest
or lacking in wisdom, he, with the other stockhold-
ers, takes active steps to have the abuses corrected.
The government of the country, the state, the coun-
ty, the municipality, is each and every one a business
in which each citizen is a stockholder, and the duty
of every stockholder in the business of government
includes a supervision of the acts of his representa-
tives which will insure wise and honest administra-
tion of its affairs.
Military Obligations. In the nature of things,
true patriotism includes active participation in main-
taining the security of the country. At times this
active participation may consist only in seeing that
the proper governmental representatives take prop-
er steps to provide for the security of the country;
at other times, it may necessitate active military ser-
vice on the part of every citizen.
Under the Constitution, every male citizen of the
United States and every male of foreign birth who
has declared his intention of becoming a citizen, be-
tween the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, is
a member of either the organized or the unorganized
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 1 1
militia of the country and as such may be called up-
on to perform active military service if it be needed.
This service, though rarely demanded, is an obliga-
tion which citizenship requires in return for the bene-
fits it confers. Military service demands that a
man be physically strong in order to undergo its
hardships. The man who through neglect or abuse
has permitted himself to become physically unfit to
endure a reasonable amount of such hardships, has
rendered himself incapable of military service. No
matter how great his desire may be, he cannot give
a man's service to his country, cannot repay the ob-
ligation he owes to the country. He has become
a noncombatant through his own misconduct and
is a burden which other and better men must pro-
tect. He occupies the same relative position as the
man who, through misconduct, has reduced himself
to paralysis and who must depend upon others to
protect his family and fireside from indignity and
outrage.
Every man who is interested in a business takes
the necessary steps to insure it against damage or
destruction. He is not content to merely provide
for reimbursement in the event of its destruction;
he arranges to guard against and prevent this des-
truction. There is no means by which a country
may insure itself against disaster except by taking
the necessary steps to prevent the disaster. The
only means by which disaster to a country may be
averted or prevented is a sound and adequate mili-
tary policy. The citizen who is truly interested in
his country's welfare will insist that his representa-
1 2 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
lives make proper provision for its security by
adopting and maintaining a military policy which
will not tempt other nations to disregard the rights
of his own country.
Education and Training. General Von Der
Goltz of the German Army says of education that
"Knowledge enhances assurance, while ignorance
is the beginning of decadence. The feeling of
commanding the means and of having, at worst, to
fight against misfortune, steels self-confidence. It
tells us, 'What others can do, you can do also', and
thus stimulates the will to rule and to lead."
Many others have testified to the necessity for
military education and training in no uncertain
terms. Napoleon in his characteristic way express-
es himself on the subject in the following question,
"When ignorance causes ten men to be killed where
but two should have been lost, is it not responsible
for the blood of the other eight?"
As a result of the war of the Revolution, Wash-
ington, Knox, Hamilton and many others labored
incessantly for the establishment of systematic
training and education of military men. The ne-
cessity for this has been reiterated and emphasized
by every war in which this country has engaged and
it is the problem which absorbs the attention and
thought of every military student in this country
today.
The Extent. Military education and training is
a most comprehensive expression. The extent to
which both can be carried is almost unlimited, ex-
cept by the time that may be devoted to them.
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 13
A simple list of the subjects which the profession-
al soldier must master before he may consider him-
self well grounded in his profession is staggering
to the beginner. The field of military training is
as boundless as that of any other art. The time in
which to prepare himself for his many duties is all
too short even for the man who makes a profession
of arms ; for him who may undertake it only as an
incident to his other occupation, it seems impos-
sible of accomplishment. However, for such there
is a degree of education and training which enables
them to perform subordinate duty in an efficient
manner and which is capable of being gained with-
out the sacrifice of time and effort which every man
owes to his personal interests.
How Attained. The Infantry Drill Regula-
tions indicates a degree of education and training
which may be considered as satisfactory for the sol-
dier of each grade.
It states that the instruction and training of of-
ficers and non-commissioned officers should be thor-
ough in the duties of their respective grades and in
those of the next higher grades. Following this
principle, the acquisition of military education and
training is a gradual process, and, timed by the var-
ious steps in promotion, is capable of being absorbed
at the expense of only a reasonable amount of time
and effort. Furthermore, it possesses an actual ad-
vantage to the man who must obtain his education
and training in this manner, for thorough training in
each grade is the likeliest stepping stone to the next
1 t Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
higher grade and makes the mastery of that higher
grade, when attained, less difficult.
The principle is not peculiar to military life
but it is fundamental and applies to the profession
of arms with perhaps greater force than to most
other professions. It is the principle upon which
every great soldier has had to build his career and to
rise to distinction. It is the principle which has
made it possible for countless volunteers, without
preliminary education or training, to serve well and
with honor both to their country and to themselves.
Outlines of what this education and training in-
volves for each grade are published from time to
time by the various headquarters responsible for the
instruction of troops. The details are to be found
in the various manuals provided and the training
is arranged and conducted by responsible officers
in each group. Under this system, the student has
only to lend his earnest effort to follow the lines of
study pointed out to him and to master them as
thoroughly as his time and ability will permit, be-
ing content to advance slowly and steadily, regard-
ing promotion as a responsibility which he may ac-
cept only when he has thoroughly qualified him-
self to discharge it.
Leadership. The infantry Drill Regulations
defines leadership as consisting of the application
of sound tactical principles to concrete cases on the
battle-field. It further enumerates the qualities of
the successful leader as being self-reliance initia-
tive, aggressiveness and a proper conception of
teamwork. Military education and training are,
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 15
of course included in the ability to apply sound tac-
tical principles.
The commander who possesses these qualities will
be well qualified to direct the military efforts of
men and will, in all probability, meet with success.
Whether he will be able to inspire the confidence of
his men and win their co-operation or teamwork is
a debatable question. It is doubtful if the display
of these qualites alone would have held the bare-
footed, half-starved, Continental soldiers in their
freezing huts at Valley Forge or would have in-
spired the tattered veterans of Lee's army to follow
him to the last bitter hour of surrender. True, de-
votion to the cause for which they fought played its
part in the case of both armies, but leadership was
largely responsible for the loyalty with which those
men clung to their beloved chiefs, and it is in the
non-military side of those leaders' characters that
we find the qualities that inspired that loyalty and
devotion.
In this view of the matter, we must remember that
we are considering leadership as applied to all
grades. It is highly probable that a commander of
a large force, removed as he necessarily is from im-
mediate contact with his men, might never be called
upon to display qualities other than those enumerated
in the Drill Regulations, though in this connection
it is interesting to read what Lord Woolsey says
of the siege of Sebastopol. He says, "During the
siege, I verily believe that a large proportion of our
men did not know the name of the general officer
commanding. They seldom saw him; he did not
16 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
live amongst them. If he had any feeling in com-
mon with them, they did not know it."
The leader, no matter how brilliant may be his
plans, may reasonably anticipate success only when
he may rely upon his subordinates to carry out his
plans in the same spirit in which he has conceived
them. Battle is the supreme test of courage and
physical endurance. It demands of each man the
utmost mental and physical effort. Without this,
the most brilliant plan is foredoomed to failure.
Men may be driven into battle, but they must be in-
spired to do their best, and this inspiration must be
largely drawn from their leaders. Men must be led
in campaign and battle, if not actually, then in
spirit, and the man who would lead successfully
must possess qualities that will inspire men to follow
him even in the face of temptation to turn back.
Briefly, some of these qualities may be enumerat-
ed as follows :
Will Power. The man who desires to have his
opinion* respected by his fellow men must advance
them with determination and support themi logi-
cally and tenaciously to the point where they im-
press themselves on others as being facts. The
great mass of people likes to be impressed and those
who have the ability to impress the people are look-
ed up to as leaders. Under a man of strong will,
the average man feels secure and this fancied se-
curity, in turn, gives rise to a feeling of courage and
ability.
Willingness to Assume Responsibility. The
leader who says to his men, "Follow me. Do as I
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 17
tell you. I will assume the responsibility," will nev-
er lack for capable and willing followers. The man
who has little physical fear of danger is often a
moral coward in the face of responsibility and
though it is always understood in the military ser-
vice that the leader is responsible, it is assuring to
the follower to know that this responsibility will
not be shirked. The man who has confidence in
himself will have little difficulty in commanding the
confidence in others.
Knowledge of Human Nature. Every leader
must be a student of human nature. No man can
lead men who does not understand how to appeal
to them ; no man can know how to appeal to men un-
til he knows them, their characteristics, motives, am-
bitions and limitations. Caesar showed himself to
be a student of human nature and of his own men
in particular when he told his wavering army that
they might stay behind but that he and the Tenth
Legion would go forth to meet the enemy. In his
concluding sentence of the order for the march to
the sea, General Sherman displayed his knowledge
of the manner in which to appeal to his men. He
said, "He (General Sherman) hopes to lead you
to achievements equal in importance to those of the
past."
Courage. Courage is defined as being that qual-
ity of mind which enables one to encounter danger
and difficulty with firmness and without fear or de-
pression.
This definition, being a broad one, includes those
qualities which we know separately as physical and
1 8 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
as moral courage, and for this reason is well suited
as a definition of the particular courage required of
the military man.
Physical Courage. We ordinarily understand by
physical courage, a lack of fear of bodily injury.
This lack may be total or only partial, and it may
take almost as many forms as there are types of
men. One man may unhesitatingly enter a brawl
in which he risks serious physical injury, yet may
shrink from the mere idea of having a tooth drawn.
Another may feel little fear in facing a rifle or a
revolver, yet may be an arrant coward when threat-
ened with a knife. Many men who are otherwise
unaffected by scenes of violence, become faint at
the sight of blood.
In the soldier, we ordinarily think of courage as
being a kind of recklessness which enables him to
face danger, even death, without fear or shrinking.
It may be definitely stated that few normal men pos-
sess such courage. Marshal Ney said, "The one
who says he never knew fear is a compound liar."
The number of men who are without definite sensa-
tions of fear would certainly fall far short of the
military demands of even the smallest nation. How-
ever, fear does not effect all alike; all do not give
like evidence of the fear they may feel. Some con-
trol it naturally, as they control all of their other
emotions; some have trained themselves to control
this particular emotion. It is said of Turenne that
on going into battle he used to address himself as
follows, "You tremble, body; well, you would trem-
ble more if you knew where I am going to take
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 19
you." Control gained as the result of such training
is, in general, more reliable than the natural control,
since the man who thus schoolSl himself enters dan-
ger fully alive to its consequences and hence is less
likely to panic than the man who may have this re-
alization suddenly thrust upon him.
Courage which is the result of training and dis-
cipline is the kind upon which the control of men
in battle is based. With such courage, the man
when facing danger obeys the voice of command
rather than the dictates of his own will.
Training and discipline enter into the control of
the soldier in still another form. During his train-
ing, he is associated with other soldiers among whom
he forms acquaintances and friendships. He nat-
urally desires the good opinion of these friends and
acquaintances. He knows that any display of fear
on his part will forfeit their good opinion, even
though his friends may be suffering from the same
fear, and in the end his pride smothers his fear.
In this connection, an emiment German soldier has
said, ''The fear of being despised as a coward by
his comrades is in the end greater than his fear
of death."
It would seem, therefore, that the crime of cow-
ardice does not consist in being afraid but in giving
away to this fear.
Moral Courage. The term moral courage has
come to be understood as meaning that quality of
mind which impels one to the performance of a duty
in spite of the lack of desire or of the fear of do-
ing it.
20 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
We have seen that every soldier is forced through
discipline and pride to an outward display of cour-
age, and for the enlisted man and the subordinate
officer, this courage will be sufficient if it carries him
through the proper performance of the duty with
which he is charged. His responsibility ends with
proper obedience to orders. However, the leader
must possess courage in addition to that which im-
pels him to mere obedience. He must have the
courage of responsibility, moral courage, the cour-
age of his convictions which will enable him to ini-
tiate a plan when he knows that its execution will
bring danger to himself and to his men; he must
have the courage to face great sacrifices, to order
them and to forget them when they have been made
in accordance with the demands of a military situ-
ation; he must have the courage to face disaster
without depression, to meet it boldly and with the
determination to convert it to his advantage.
Not every man is capable of the courage of the
leader. General Von Der Goltz says, "Courage
and love of responsibility are necessary to a general
but are rare gifts .... Courage of responsibility is
born of a certain nobility of mind which must be in-
herent in the general, and which ennobles his whole
nature. It consists of a sense of superiority which
raises above the common herd, without making one
presumptouSj and which may be innate or acquired
in the school of life."
In this connection, it may not be out of place to
point a warning. The mere command of men in
time of peace involves little more than a knowledge
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 21
of certain set forms. In war, it involves a tremen-
dous responsibility. The man who voluntarily as-
sumes the command of men at such a tinfe, takes up-
on himself the responsibility for their proper em-
ployment. To him, each man under his command
confides his life and, in return, is entitled to have
his life protected by every safeguard which knowl-
edge and ability can afford him. When men are
sacrificed in proper employment, it is a matter of
military necessity; when they are sacrificed need-
lessly or through ignorance, it is a crime little short
of murder, and the man who accepts the responsi-
bility of commanding men in war without the
knowledge or ability to lead them properly is a ten-
tative murderer who requires only the fruits of bat-
tle to consummate his crime.
Military Character, How Acquired. In the fore-
going discussion, we have considered somewhat of
the qualities which go to make up the sum of the
military character and the question which next pre-
sents itself is, How may these qualities be acquired
and cultivated? The answer is not capable of being
written in mere formulae.
The development of military character is a prob-
lem which each individual must solve according to
the circumstances of his own life. Many of the de-
sirable qualities are innate in every normal man;
many result from proper upbringing ; some must be
absorbed from the school of life. The purely pro-
fessional qualities are, in general only to be acquired
from military association and activity. The only
textbooks are to be found in the lives and exper-
22 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
iences of those who have been recognized as great
soldiers and great citizens.
Among officers, military character is largely de-
veloped by the circumstances under which they en-
ter the service. The character of the West Pointer
is molded in great part while he is a cadet under the
discipline and instruction of the Academy and in
that atmosphere of tradition which is more potent
even than regulations. The character of the officer
who rises from the ranks takes its form in the prac-
tical school of military life, with the example of
trained and disciplined soldiers and educated officers
for a text and the restrictions of discipline to guide
and direct him. The character of the officer ap-
pointed from civil life is the product of his earnest-
ness, his ability to observe and to adapt himself to
his surroundings and to absorb the unfamiliar at-
mosphere. Unfortunately he lacks much of the re-
straining influence with which officers of the other
two classes are surrounded during the formative
period of their characters, and this lack must be sup-
plemented by his own sense of the fitness of things
and by his discretion in the selection of models after
which to fashion his own character. In determining
whom to admire, whom to select as a model, he must
search military biography for a standard and then
study his associates to see which of their qualities he
must acquire in order to reach the desired standard.
The experience of the militia officer is akin to that
of the regular officer of the last two classes. In gen-
eral, he serves his apprenticeship in the ranks and
thus has the opportunity of observing his officers
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 23
from the viewpoint of the enlisted man and under
conditions which make their example more impres-
sive to him. At the same time, the restraints of dis-
cipline are less binding and social conditions permit
him to come in contact with his officers when not in
military employment. He thus enjoys a double
viewpoint from which to observe and to select that
which he deems desirable in his character as an
officer.
Practically, the cultivation of military character
must begin with an intelligent conception of its
meaning, its necessity and its value, and be followed
by an adaptation of its requirements to the circum-
stances of one's daily life. It involves the cultiva-
tion of the military habit of thought and action, the
subjection of self to the restraints of an orderly,
systematic life, and to a direct and unselfish hon-
esty ; it involves the punctilious practice of military
courtesy in official circles and of dignified deport-
ment in unofficial circles ; it involves looking at life
from a simple, straightforward, military viewpoint.
A Motto. A formula is always of assistance in
the solution of any problem. In the problem of ac-
quiring and cultivating the military character, this
formula takes the form of a motto or device upon
whose skeleton we may hang the various qualities
we have selected as being desirable.
It is at once a reminder of the goal toward which
we struggle and a signpost to point the way toward
that goal. It is the slogan by which we proclaim to
the world the character and the purpose of our
effort.
24 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
In the search for such a motto, I find none bet-
ter suited to the code of any man than that borne
upon the Arms of the United States Military Acad-
emy. It is,
DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY.
Duty toward self, fellowman and country.
Honor as an individual and as a citizen of the
state.
Loyalty and devotion to the country, in every
sense that the words may imply.
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 25
CHAPTER II.
MILITARY HABIT AND DEPORTMENT.
Definition. Habit is defined as being the ordi-
nary course of conduct of the individual, a kind of
second nature, an involuntary tendency to do certain
things which is acquired by their frequent repeti-
tion.
Habit is the natural product of the character and
life of the individual and, to a certain extent dis-
tinguishes him as belonging to a certain class or pro-
fession. The habit of the clergyman, or the school
teacher is distinctive of the man's daily life, and we
speak of them as being of clerical or of scholarly
habit.
Military habit is nothing more than the ordinary
course of conduct of the soldier, a kind of second
nature which causes him to involuntarily do certain
things after a military fashion. For example: the
salute between military men is a courtesy which be-
comes through its frequent exchange an involun-
tary habit in which the soldier indulges without
thought or consciousness of so doing. In other
words, the military habit is the product and outward
evidence of the military character and life; as a
man begins to take on military character and to live
a military life, he unconsciously begins to conduct
himself after a fashion in accordance with that char-
acter and life and we refer to that fashion of con-
duct as the military habit.
26 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
How Evidenced. The question of what consti-
tutes the military habit is best answered by enumer-
ating some of the more prominent ways in which
it is generally manifested.
Bearing. To outward appearance, the most
prominent and distinguishing mark of the soldier is
in his bearing and carriage. The upright bearing,
the confident, elastic stride, the uplifted chin, the
steady, unfaltering eye have come to be recognized
the world over as indicating the man of military
training and habit. This bearing and carriage is
primarily a measure of physical development and
training, designed to prepare the soldier for the
work of his profession by giving him perfect and
easy control of the members and muscles of his
body; its constant practice when on military duty
in time develops it into a habit from which the
trained soldier is rarely ever able to divorce him-
self.
Incidentally, it may be remarked that the mili-
tary bearing and carriage is a perfect one from
the physical standpoint and is well worth being
cultivated by any man, be he soldier or civilian.
Personal Appearance. Pride in one's personal
appearance is a pardonable fault; indeed, it is a
duty which every man owes to himself to present
a neat appearance, for people instinctively form
much of their estimate of a man's character from his
personal appearance. They judge, and rightly, that
the man who is careless or indifferent to outward
appearance is apt to be careless and indifferent in
his other habits of life.
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 27
Someone has said that a man is as much of a sol-
dier as his uniform makes him, meaning that the
more attractive the uniform, the more pride the man
will take in wearing it. On the other hand, it may
be said that the more of a soldier a man is, the more
pride he will take in his uniform and the more care
he will devote to keeping it neat and smart. Aside
from the favorable impression which smart out-
ward appearance produces, it may be taken as an
indication of one's general disposition toward clean-
liness and neatness, and personal cleanliness should
be one of the cardinal virtues of the soldier.
Tlie Manual for Privates of Infantry of the Or-
ganized Militia includes the following rules which
are worth bearing always in mind:
Wear the exact uniform prescribed by your com-
manding officer, whether you are on duty or off
duty.
Never wear a mixed uniform, as, for intance, a
part of the olive drab with either the khaki or the
blue uniform.
Never wear any part of the uniform with civil-
ian clothes.
Keep the uniform clean and neat and in good re-
pair.
Grease spots and dust and dirt should be re-
moved as soon as possible.
Rips and tears should be promptly mended.
Missing buttons and collar and cap ornaments
should be promptly replaced.
There is but one correct and soldierly way to
28 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
wear the cap. Never wear it on the back or the
side of the head.
The campaign hat should be worn in the regula-
tion shape. Do not cover it with pen or pencil
marks.
Never appear outside of your room or tent with
your blouse unbuttoned or collar unhooked.
When blouses are not worn, suspenders should
never be exposed to view.
Never appear in breeches without leggings.
Leather leggings should be kept polished. Can-
vas leggings should be scrubbed when dirty.
Black shoes should be kept shined. Russet leath-
er shoes should be kept polished.
The overcoat when worn should be buttoned
throughout and the collar hooked.
To these might well be added the following :
Keep the hair close cropped and neatly brushed.
Shave as often as necessary to keep a clean face.
In the field, keep the shirt collar buttoned to the
throat. Do not unbutton and roll up the sleeves.
Avoid getting clothing unnecessarily soiled in
the field. Endeavor to keep as neat and smart as is
possible.
Do not wear neckties with the olive drab shirt in
the field, or tie a handkerchief around the neck, un-
less it be an authorized neckerchief issued by the
proper authorities.
Do not wear a watch chain or fob conspicuously
displayed. Do not wear pins or badges of any sort
except those issued for use.
Military Courtesy. The visible habit which, next
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 29
to bearing, most distinguishes the trained soldier is
his practice of the forms of military courtesy. Mili-
tary courtesy is nothing more than the code of pre-
scribed and adopted rites of the profession of arms ;
the forms of military courtesy correspond to those
which govern polite intercourse in civil life, and
strict observance of these forms is an unfailing indi-
cation of military training and discipline just as
adherence to the conventions of society is an indi-
cation of good breeding and form.
It must be remarked, however, that mere obser-
vance of the prescribed forms of military courtesy
indicates but little. The manner in which they are
observed is the distinguishing mark of the true sol-
dier. Pompousness or servility indicates a failure
to grasp the spirit of military courtesy ; carelessness
or indifference indicates a lack of training and dis-
cipline; ease and dignity indicate proper training
and a proper conception of courtesy and discipline.
Discipline. A proper observance of the res-
traints of discipline is inseparable from the mili-
tary habit, and, again, it is the manner in which the
requirements of discipline are observed that distin-
guishes the trained soldier. Outward compliance
with the requirements of discipline, coupled with in-
ward rebellion against them, indicates but little
more than a state of cowlardly subjection; it is but
little better than the attitude of the would-be crim-
inal who refrains from breaking the law only for
fear of the consequences of so doing. Careless and
indifferent compliance indicates a lack of apprecia-
tion of the real purpose and value of discipline.
SO Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
There is nothing unmanly or undignified in ad-
hering strictly to the requirements of discipline.
In so doing, the soldier is merely contributing his
support to the fundamental principle upon which
his profession is based; he is demonstrating the
measure of his respect for the dignity of his pro-
fession and is proclaiming that he has grasped the
genuine spirit of the man at arms.
Order and System. The nature of military em-
ployment demands that every detail of its business
be conducted without confusion or irregularity.
In order that this may be so it is necessary that its
administration be at all times orderly and system-
atic. Without order and system, there must in-
evitably result confusion and uncertainty, and with
such conditions, control and discipline are impos-
sible. Naturally an orderly and systematic ad-
ministration cannot be expected of a man who has
not trained himself to orderly and systematic hab-
its of conduct and w^ork, and these habits should
apply to both the official and the unofficial life of
the soldier, for the man whose private life is not reg-
ulated by some intelligent system will have diffi-
culty in adjusting himself to an orderly and system-
atic routine in official life.
Devotion to Duty. The proper and faithful
performance of duty is the standard by which the
value and efficiency of the soldier is measured, and
the measure of his efficiency and value is not deter-
mined by the prominence of the duty which he per-
forms. The sum of military employment is made
up of a multitude of details, many of which may
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 31
appear insignificant, but all of which are of equal
importance. Hohenlohe, in his letters on Infan-
try, says of the importance of the minor details,
"You may perhaps laugh at such details. But the
grandest and most beautiful building is composed
of comparatively small and unimposing stones and
falls altogether to the ground, if these little stones
are not worked and joined with the proper care."
The private soldier who gives his best and most
intelligent effort to the police of the grounds
about the company kitchen is demonstrating his ef-
ficiency and value just as fully as the general who
plans a successful campaign.
The Habit of Loyalty. The Manual of Privates
of Infantry of the Organized Militia sums up the
subject of loyalty in the following words:
"But even with implicit obedience you may yet
fail to measure up to that high standard of duty
which is at once the pride and glory of every true
soldier. Not until you carry out the desires and
wishes of your superiors in a hearty, willing and
cheerful manner are you meeting all the require-
ments of your profession. For an order is but the
will of your superior, however it may be expressed.
Loyalty means that you are for your organization
and its officers and non-commissioned officers not
against them; that you always extend your earnest
and most hearty support to those in authority. No
soldier is a loyal soldier who is a knocker, or a grum-
bler or a shirker. Just one m'an of this class in
a company breeds discontent and dissatisfaction
among the others. You should, therefore, not only
32 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
guard against doing such things yourself, but you
should discourage such actions among any of your
comrades."
The Habit of Being Patriotic. Above all things,
the soldier should be a model of loyalty and devo-
tion to his country. He is a guardian not only of
its safety but of its honor and dignity. His atti-
tude and conduct should be such as to furnish ex-
ample to all others.
His motives should be beyond question. His con-
duct should be such as to indicate the true state of
his feelings, and his devotion to his country should
be made known by his attitude of respect toward its
visible symbols.
The national flag is the symbol of the power and
dignity of the country and as such should be the sub-
ject of the most profound respect on the part of
every citizen.
The Army Regulations require that all bodies of
soldiers, all officers and enlisted men salute the nat-
ional and regimental flags in a proper and respect-
ful manner and remembering that it is the symbol
for which he has pledged himself to fight, it should
be the pride of every soldier to pay this respect in
a manner that will serve as an example to all others.
The duly elected officers of the Government are
the representatives of the dignity and power of the
country. Respect paid to them is respect paid to
the country. To make light of them or to lower
them in the respect of others is to lower the dignity
of the country.
As the representatives of the people, they cannot
Military Character, Habit) Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 33
reasonably expect to be removed from proper criti-
cism when their conduct or their acts lay them, open
to such criticism, but the criticism should be temper-
ate and respectful. Intemperate accusations, vul-
gar criticism, cartooning and lampooning of public
officials reflects more upon the country than it does
on them.
Such apparently was the opinion of those who
framed the laws of this country in the days when the
memories of their sacrifices for the country were
still fresh in their minds. The 19th Article of War
prescribes that: "Any officer who uses contempt-
uous or disrespectful words against the President,
the Vice-president, the Congress of the United
States, or chief magistrate or the legislature of any
of the United States in which he is quartered, shall
be dismissed from the service, or otherwise punished
as a court-martial may direct. Any soldier who so
offends shall be punished as a court-martial may
direct."
Nor is outward respect for the symbols of the
country, its representatives and its institutions suf-
ficient to indicate true loyalty to the country. True
loyalty seeks to uphold and protect the reputation
of the country. The oath which the Boy Scouts of
France take might well serve as a model for the
citizen of any and all countries. These boys pledge
themselves, "Never to speak ill of their country be-
fore strangers. To discuss discreetly what is bad
in public life; to be silent about what is middling,
and to extol what is good."
34< Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
CHAPTER III.
MILITARY COURTESY.
Definition. Military courtesy may be briefly de-
fined as being the attitude of civility and respect
which military men at all tinges maintain toward
each other. Its true nature is best understood
through a knowledge of the manner in which it is
practiced among military men.
In order to understand the various forms by
which it is expressed, it should be understood that
military courtesy is based on the principle of equal-
ity among military men. In point of merit, and
honor, one soldier is the equal of any other soldier,
whatever may be their respective rank or grade.
Each gives his service to his country ; each offers the
same sacrifice his life as an earnest of his sin-
cerity, they differ from each other only in the mat-
ter of rank and grade and consequent duties and
responsibilities, and these are conditions which are
regulated by circumstances and expediency.
In one of the Articles of Faith of the Japanese
soldier, the principle is stated in the following
words: "All soldiers must remember that they are
associated in a great and honorable service, and that
to serve worthily in the station in which each is
placed is an honor in which the private participates
as fully as the general."
The Spirit of Military Courtesy. The practice
of military courtesy is greatly simplified by a
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 35
correct grasp of the spirit in which it should be
practiced, and, in turn, an understanding of the
spirit of military courtesy is facilitated by bearing
in mind that it is the attitude maintained among
men who are, each according to his station, of equal
importance in a great calling.
With this in mind, it is obvious that ease and dig-
nity should characterize the exchange of all mili-
tary courtesies, and that exaggerated forms, such
as prompousness or servility, are objectionable and
entirely out of place among soldiers of the proper
type.
Pompousness is often mistaken by the uninitiated
as an index of a high standard of military form,
whereas, it is in truth only a cheap imitation, a cloak
behind which to hide ignorance of true courtesy.
Associated with pompousness are brusqueness and
rudeness, both of which serve to indicate that the
soldier who is guilty of either adopts this manner
because he realizes his own deficiences and seeks
in this way to cover them from those under him.
There may have been a time when rough treat-
ment of subordinates was necessary to the preser-
ervation of discipline, but that time is happily past.
General Von Der Goltz, commenting on this sub-
ject, says, "Official brusqueness, too, is less justi-
fiable now, and will avail less than formerly. The
more friendly the official relations, the greater the
prospect of every thing working smoothly."
Origin. Military courtesy is as old as the profes-
sion of arms. In the beginning, the rank and file
of fighting men were generally of one of two classes,
36 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
namely, those who owed allegiance to soirfe hered-
itary leader or chieftain, or those who voluntarily
assumed such allegiance in return for a price, gen-
erally the patronage and protection of the leader.
It was no more than natural that such men should
pay a certain respect and deference to their leaders.
Moreover, these leaders were very generally men
whose rank and personal prowess was such as to win
and hold the admiration and respect of their fol-
lowers. These hereditary leaders were followed by
another class whose members rose to leadership by
virtue of their ability, and respect flowed to them
as the natural result of their success. Certain forms
grew out of the relations of these leaders and their
fighting men and these forms, modified to meet the
requirements of modern conditions, have been hand-
ed down to us to form the basis of the military court-
esy of the present day.
With each advance in civilization, the conditions
of military service have changed. Organization
has been introduced and, in turn, has introduced
graded rank and responsibility. In the United
States Army and in the Organized Militia, men
serve voluntarily; they serve the country; the lead-
er is merely the representative of that country. The
deference formerly paid to the leader as an individ-
ual is now paid to the individual by virtue of the
rank he holds in the organization, in other words,
to the position, not to the man.
Importance. Courtesy in any man is generally
taken as an indication of his breeding. Its posses-
sion indicates good breeding; its absence, a lack of
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 37
breeding or the possession of an undesirable dispo-
sition. It is an essential element in all intercourse
between polite people. On account of its intimate
association with discipline, it is of especial impor-
tance in the military service.
Armies are composed of groups of various siz-
es, and the members of each group are closely as-
sociated with each other in every detail of official
and private life. Every phase of their employment
is in the nature of teamwork which requires united
and harmonious action on the part of all. Added
to this there must be a spirit of mutual confidence
and helpfulness among the members of each group
and among the groups themselves. This close and
intimate relation is capable of being the source of as
much difference of opinion and irritation as is to
be encountered in the association of men for any
other purpose. In the nature of things, disagree-
ments are inevitable and, to meet the necessities of
discipline, some one must submit to some other.
The one who shoulders the greater responsibility,
hence is clothed with the higher rank, is entitled by
virtue of this greater responsibility, to exercise the
balance of opinion and, if necessary, to enforce it
with the power with which he is endowed. By the
exercise of proper military courtesy, the submission
of the one to the other may be accomplished with-
out harshness on the part of the one or humiliation
on the part of the other. Military courtesy is thus
not only the pleasant manner of ordinary associa-
tion, but is also the official balm with which the sting
of discipline is removed.
38 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
Source. Generally speaking, the forms of mili-
tary courtesy are derived from one of two sources,
namely, the Regulations and the Customs of the
Service.
By Regulations is meant, all the the published
rules and orders for the government of the military
forces. These are included in the Army Regula-
tions, the drill regulations of the various arms of
the service, and other manuals and orders publish-
ed by authority of the War Department. As a
rule, the forms of military courtesy appropriate to
official occasions and intercourse are prescribed in
one or the other of the official publications.
By Customs of the Service is meant that code of
unwritten rules and regulations which has grown up
in the service and which, having been recognized as
being proper and appropriate, has been given offi-
cial sanction. It is the general source of those
forms of military courtesy applicable to social and
private intercourse in the military service, although
not limited to unofficial occasions.
Regulations. The subject of military courtesy
is covered in the Army Regulations by two general
paragraphs in which it is stated that:
"Courtesy among military men is indispensable
to discipline; respect to superiors will not be con-
fined to obedience on duty, but will be extended on
all occasions."
"In official correspondence between officers, or be-
tween officers and officials of the other branches of
the public service, and especially in matters involv-
ing questions of jurisdiction, conflict of authority or
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 39
disputes, Officers of the Army are reminded that
their correspondence should be courteous in tone
and free from any expression partaking of a per-
sonal nature or calculated to give offense."
In elaboration of these two paragraphs, the
Army Regulations prescribes certain formts by
means of which honors and courtesies are paid and
exchanged, and the occasions upon which they are
to be paid or exchanged. The drill regulations of
the various arms prescribe in detail the manner in
which they are paid or exchanged.
Before considering these details however some ex-
planation of the nature of the forms themselves is
of value in understanding the spirit in which they
are to be paid and exchanged.
The Position of Attention. In all of the regula-
tions governing the exchange of courtesies, it will
be observed that the officer or soldier, when not in
motion, always assumes the position of the soldier,
or attention, when in the presence of a senior or
when about to salute. It is only proper that the
presence of a senior should be recognized by some
mark of respect. The act of rising is the custom-
ary manner in which any man greets the appearance
of any one to whom he desires to show respect. The
position of attention is the proper one for the sol-
dier when standing, and for that reason is the posi-
tion prescribed for him when he is exchanging
courtesies. It may be remarked also that the
standing position is one of privilege. It was for-
merly a very general custom to acknowledge the
presence of a superior or of royalty by kneeling,
40 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
only those who were of high rank or otherwise priv-
iliged being permitted to stand.
The Removal of the Hat. It will also be ob-
served that when indoors and unarmed, the officer or
soldier removes the hat when in the presence of a
senior. The removal of the hat is the survival of a
custom which began in the days of chivalry. The
helmet worn by armoured knights was a clumsy and
burdensome affair and was not worn unnecessarily.
When among friends, the wearer would take ad-
vantage of the occasion to remove it. In time, the
removal of the helmet was taken as an indication
that the wearer felt himself to be among friends
and, consequently, not in need of the protection of
his helmet. Gradually the custom became so well
recognized that it was taken as an indication of un-
friendliness or of disrespect if the helmet was not
removed in the presence of friends or acquaintan-
ces. The present custom of removing the hat is the
modern form of the same courtesy.
In addition, it should be remarked that the hat
should not ordinarily be worn when indoors, and its
removal merely places the soldier in proper indoor
costume.
When indoors and under arms, the soldier does
not remove the hat, presumably following the cus-
tom referred to above, namely, that the fighting
man only removed his head covering when among
friends and in no danger, but that when under arms,
he was presumably prepared for duty and when
so prepared should keep his head covering on.
The Salute. This form of courtesy is one whose
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 41
significance is very generally misunderstood. In
this country especially, many people are inclined to
regard it as an act of subservience, unbecoming
to one of a free people. The history of the salute
is sufficient to show the error of this idea, for, his-
torically, the salute with the hand originated as an
exchange of courtesy among equals. In the days
of chivalry, knights on meeting were in the habit
of indicating their intentions by their actions. If
unfriendly, upon sighting each other, they prepared
for battle; if friendly, they raised the right, or
fighting hand, to show that it was empty of wea-
pons, thus signifying the friendliness or peaceful-
ness of their intentions. The act was gradually
adopted as a salutation among friends and today it
is an invariable custom among gentlemen to greet
acquaintances by touching the hat.
In his Noncommissioned Officers' Manual, Cap-
tain Moss sums up the significance of the salute in
the following expressive manner:
"The salute on the part of the subordinate is not
intended in any way as an act of degradation or a
mark of inferiority, but is simply a military court-
esy that is as binding on the officer as it is on the
private, and just as the enlisted man is required to
salute first, so is the officer required to salute his
superiors first. It is the bond uniting all in a com-
mon profession, marking the fact that above them
there is an authority that both recognize and obey
Country . . The officer and the private belong to a
brotherhood whose regalia is the uniform of the
American soldier, and they are known to each other
1*2 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
and to all men, by an honored sign and symbol of
knighthood that has come down to us from the
ages THE MILITARY SALUTE.
This view of the nature of the salute is corrobor-
ated in the Army Regulations by the paragraphs
in which it is prescribed that:
"Officers will at all times acknowledge the court-
esies of enlisted men by returning salutes given, in
the manner prescribed in drill regulations. When
several officers in company are saluted, all who en-
listed to the salute return it."
The Infantry Drill Regulations further em-
phasizes it by prescribing that:
"Officers will acknowledge salutes smartly and
promptly."
It is thus apparent that the salute is officially re-
garded as a courtesy equally obligatory upon all sol-
diers, whatever may be their grade.
General Requirements in Saluting. The Infan-
try Drill Regulations defines saluting distance as
being the distance within which recognition is easy;
in general, about thirty paces. It then adds:
"In approaching or passing each other, within
saluting distance, individuals salute when at about
six paces. If they do not approach each other that
closely, the salute is exchanged at the point of near-
est approach."
These provisions are intended merely as a guide
for the uninitiated and as a check on the conduct of
those who, through lack of proper discipline, or
through carelessness or indifference, may be inclined
to avoid proper observance of military courtesy.
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 43
The question of whether or not to salute should nev-
er enter the mind of the soldier who has grasped
ed the proper spirit of military courtesy. What-
ever may be the distance separating him from the
senior, whatever the conditions under which they
may meet whether in or out of doors, in the gar-
rison, or mingling with civilians in public places
if the circumstances be those under which he would
greet a friend or acquaintance, the trained soldier
will salute his senior.
The Army Regulations provide that :
"All officers salute on meeting and in making and
receiving official reports. Military courtesy re-
quires the junior to salute first. . . Officers will at all
times acknowledge the courtesies of enlisted men
by returning salutes given, in the the manner pre-
scribed in drill regulations. When several officers in
company are saluted, all who are entitled to the sa-
lute return it."
The Infantry Drill Regulations prescribe that:
"Enlisted men within saluting distance and not
in ranks salute all officers."
These two paragraphs cover the whole subject of
the exchange of salutes by individuals. The other
provisions of the Army Regulations and of the Drill
Regulations are merely explanatory of the way in
which the salute is rendered and of the occasions on
which it is exchanged.
How Rendered. The salute by the individual is
rendered with the hand, the saber, or the rifle, ac-
cording to circumstances. Under certain condi-
tions it is rendered by standing at attention only.
i 1 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
If without arms, or with the saber not drawn, the
salute is rendered with the hand.
If the saber be drawn, the prescribed saber sa-
lute is rendered.
If armed with the rifle, the proper rifle salute is
rendered. When indoors and unarmed, the salute is
rendered by standing at attention uncovered, fac-
ing the one to be saluted.
The Salute with the Hand. The Infantry Drill
Regulations prescribes the salute with the hand as
follows :
"Raise the right hand smartly till the tip of the
forefinger touches the lower part of the headdress
above the right eye, thumb and fingers extended and
joined, palm to the left, forearm inclined at about
forty-five degrees, hand and wrist straight. If un-
covered, stand at attention, without saluting."
To complete the salute: "Drop the arm smartly
by the side."
The hand should be held in the position of the
salute until the salute has been recognized and re-
turned or until the one saluted has passed or has
been passed.
When saluting, both officers and enlisted men
look toward the person saluted.
If in motion, the salute is properly begun when
at about six paces from the one to be saluted.
If not in motion, the salute is rendered standing
in the position of attention, facing the one to be sa-
luted ; it is begun when the one to be saluted has ap-
proached within about six paces, or, if he does not
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 45
approach that closely, at the point of nearest ap-
proach.
Two errors are common in rendering the salute
with the hand, namely, that of lowering the head to
meet the forefinger, and that of jerking the hand
down to the side to complete the salute. The head
should be held erect, the chin if anything a little up-
lifted, and in completing the salute, the hand is
dropped quickly, but not jerkily, to the side.
In connection with the salute with the hand, the
Army Regulations further prescribes :
"On all occasions outdoors, and also in public
places, such as stores, theaters, railway and steam-
boat stations, and the like, the salute to any person
whatever by officers and enlisted men in uniform,
with no arms in the hand, whether on or off duty,
shall be the hand salute, the right hand being used,
the headdress not to be removed."
The Saber Salute. The salute with the saber is
prescribed as follows:
"The saber is raised and carried to the front, base
of the hilt as high as the chin and six inches in front
of the neck, edge to the left, point six inches far-
ther to the front than the hilt, thumb extended on
the left of the grip, all fingers grasping the grip."
To complete the salute: "Lower the saber, point
in prolongation of the right foot and near the
ground, edge to the left, hand by the side, thumb
on the left of the grip, arm extended."
"If mounted, the hand is held behind the thigh,
point a little to the right and in front of the stir-
rup."
46 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
Enlisted men execute only the first motion of the
saber salute. When the salute has been ackno\y-
ledged, the saber is brought back to the carry.
The Rifle Salute. The Infantry Drill Regula-
tions prescribes the rifle salute as follows:
"Being at the right shoulder arms, carry the left
hand smartly to the small of the stock, forearm
horizontal, palm of hand down, thumb and forefing-
ers extended and joined, forefinger touching the
end of cocking piece ; look toward the person salut-
ed."
To complete the salute: "Drop the left hand by
the side; turn the head and eyes to the front."
"With the rifle on the left shoulder, the salute is
rendered in a corresponding manner with the right
hand."
"Being at the order or trail arms: carry the left
hand smartly to the right side, palm of the hand
down, thumb and fingers extended and joined,
forefinger against piece near the muzzle; look to-
ward the person saluted."
To complete the salute: "Drop the left hand by
the side; turn the head and eyes to the front."
If out of doors and in motion, the rifle salute is
rendered with the piece on either shoulder. Its po-
sition need not be changed in order to salute with
the hand farthest from the officer.
If out of doors and not in motion, the rifle salute
is properly rendered from the position of attention,
with the piece at the order arms.
When indoors, the piece is properly carried at the
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 47
trail, and if in motion, the salute would be rendered
with the piece in that position.
The Salute Indoors. Except when armed, offi-
cers and enlisted mjen indoors salute by standing at
attention and uncovering. If armed, they do not
uncover, but stand at attention; they do not salute
except when addressed or when they address a
senior.
The Salute on Official Occasions. The Army
Regulations provide that :
"All officers salute on making or receiving of-
ficial reports. When the salute is introductory to
a report made at a military ceremony or formation,
to the representative of a common superior as for
example, to the adjutant, the officer of the day, etc.
the officer making the report, whatever his rank,
will salute first; the officer to whom the report is
made will acknowledge, by saluting, that he has re-
ceived and understood the report."
An officer makes the prescribed salute before ad-
dressing a senior, and after having received a re-
ply, an order, etc.
An enlisted man makes the prescribed salute be-
fore addressing an officer. He also makes the same
salute after receiving a reply.
Whom to Salute. The Army Regulations pre-
scribe that :
"Soldiers at all times and in all situations pay the
same compliments to officers of the Army, Navy,
Marine Corps, and volunteers and officers of the or-
ganized militia in uniform as to the officers of their
own regiment, corps or arm of the service."
48 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
The Infantry Drill Regulations provide that :
''Officers not in uniform are saluted if recog-
nized."
Tfo Salute to the Color. The Army Regula-
tions provide that:
"The national or regimental color or standard,
uncased, passing a guard or other armed body will
be saluted, the field music sounding "to the color"
or "to the standard". Officers or enlisted men pas-
sing the uncased color will render the prescribed
salute; with no arms in hand, the salute will be the
hand salute, using the right hand, the headdress not
to be removed."
The Star Spangled Banner. The Army Regu-
lations prescribe that:
"Whenever The Star Spangled Banner is played
at a military station, or at any place where persons
belonging to the military service are present in their
official capacity or present unofficially but in uni-
form, all officers and enlisted men present will stand
at attention, facing toward the music, retaining that
position until the last note of the air, and then sa-
lute. With no arms in the hand, the salute will be
the hand salute. The same respect will be payed
to the national air of any other country when it is
played as a compliment to official representatives of
such country."
"The flag will be lowered at the sounding of the
last note of the retreat, and while the flag is being
lowered, the band will play the Star Spangled Ban-
ner, or if there be no band present, the field music
will sound "to the color". When "to the color" is
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 49
sounded by the field music while the flag is being
lowered the same respect will be observed as when
the Star Spangled Banner is being played by the
band, and in either case officers and enlisted men out
of ranks will face toward the flag, stand at atten-
tion, and render the prescribed salute at the last note
of the music."
Salutes by Armed Bodies. The salutes rendered
by armed bodies of troops are properly classified
under the head of Honors, but since they involve
the matter of saluting, they are here briefly consid-
ered.
Armed bodies salute by executing Eyes Right
(Left), the Present Arms, and by being called to
attention while the commander salutes in person.
The Eyes Right (left) is executed by troops on-
ly when they are passing in review at reviews, par-
ades and at guard mounting.
The Present Arms is executed by troops only at
ceremonies, such as reviews, parades, guard mount-
ing, escorts of the color, of honor, funeral escorts,
etc.
A body of troops is brought to attention as a sa-
lute to another body of troops, a general officer, the
regimental, battalion or company commanders only.
On such occasions, the commander of the troops
salutes in person.
An enlisted man commanding a body of troops
less than a company, calls it to attention before sa-
luting any officer.
The commander of a body of troops salutes in
person all officers senior to him, and returns the
50 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
salutes of all officers junior to him and of all enlist-
ed men. He does not call his troops to attention.
Miscellaneous. When mounted, officers and en-
listed men salute with the right hand, the left being
engaged with the reins.
An officer, mounted, dismounts before addressing
a senior who is on foot.
A mounted soldier dismounts before addressing
an officer not mounted.
Soldiers actually at work do not cease work to
salute unless addressed by an officer.
When an officer enters a room where there are
soldiers, the word "Attention" is given by someone
who perceives him, when all rise and remain stand-
ing in the position of a soldier until the officer leaves
the room.
The foregoing practice is not confined to enlisted
men indoors. Men grouped on the porch of bar-
racks, near a tent, the guard tent or any other place,
would be called to attention by the first one of the
group to perceive an approaching officer. In strict
interpretation of the regulations, all should then sa-
lute; however, the custom of permitting the senior
present to salute for all has become very generally
recognized.
Officers arriving at the headquarters of a mili-
tary command, or at a military post, will call upon
the commander thereof as soon as practicable and
register their names. If the visiting officer be sen-
ior to the commander, the former may send a card,
in w r hich case it becomes the duty of the commander
to make the first call.
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 51
The interchange of courtesies between officers of
the Army and Navy and between officers of the
army and civil officers is fully covered in the Army
Regulations and should be punctiliously observed.
When troops have been detailed to act as an es-
cort of honor to a distinguished visitor, the post
commander should always detail an officer to act
as an aide to the visitor.
Upon the arrival of a general officer in a post or
camp, the commander should always detail a ser-
geant to report to him as orderly. A private is sim-
ilarly detailed as orderly for an Inspector who is
officially present at post or camp.
Customs of the Service. The customs of the ser-
vice constitute a vast code, unwritten for the most
part, which embraces practically every detail of the
soldier's official, social and private relations. Rep-
resenting, as it does, the precedent and practice of
hundreds of years, it would require volumes to re-
duce it to print.
Even that part which refers to military courtesy
alone is far beyond the limitation of a work of this
kind. It is a code that can only be fully compre-
hended by daily practice and association with mili-
tary men in a military atmosphere. It can no more
be reduced to definite rules than can the code of
good breeding be incorporated in a book on eti-
quette. There are, however, certain semi-official
customs which may be briefly stated in a way to be
of assistance to the beginner. Among these are :
The Form of Address. The use of the word
"Sir" is more general in conversation among mili-
52 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
tary men than among civilians for the reason that
civilians are not distinguished from each other by
as many grades and ranks. The various regula-
tions prescribe the use of the word with reports
made at ceremonies, etc., and custom has prescrib-
ed its use in all official conversation. An enlisted
man always makes use of it in addressing an officer
and frequently when addressing a noncommissioned
officer. In official conversation between officers, it
is never omitted, and it is not at all out of place in
social conversation among officers of different ranks
or among those of the same ranks who are not well
acquainted.
Use of the Third Person. In the beginning of a
conversation with an officer, an enlisted man, ad-
dresses the officer in the third person and refers to
himself in the same way; thereafter, during the
same conversation, he may properly use the first
and second persons. For example: he says, "Sir,
Private Smith has permission of the First Sergeant
to speak to the Captain." Wheo asked what he
wishes, he may properly say, "I would like to ask
your permission, etc."
Titles. An enlisted man always addresses an of-
ficer or refers to him by his proper military title.
When speaking to an officer, an enlisted man always
refers to a noncommissioned officer by his proper
title, such as, Sergeant Jones, Corporal Green, etc.
He refers to a private soldier as Private So-and-
So. In referring to a noncommissioned officer
whose position is distinctive, or to whom the refer-
ence is unmistakable, he may omit the name, giv-
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 53
ing the title only. For example: he may say, "The
First Sergeant," when clearly referring to the first
sergeant of his own company.
In all official communications, officers address
each other and refer to each other by their proper
official titles. In the use of the titles, there are cer-
tain variations which custom has recognized, as for
example, all general officers are referred to and ad-
dressed as General; a lieutenant colonel is referred
to and addressed as Colonel; all lieutenants are re-
ferred to and addressed as Lieutenant.
Unofficially, the use of the titles depends large-
ly upon the degree of intimacy existing among the
officers themselves. Seniors sometimes omit the
title when addressing juniors whom they know well.
Officers of the same grade very generally omit the
title when addressing each other, except when they
are not well acquainted. Juniors sometimes omit
the title when addressing a senior with whom they
have enjoyed long acquaintance, but the better prac-
tice is not to do so. Unofficially, all lieutenants
are addressed and referred to as Mister.
Calling. We have seen that Army Regulations
require a visiting officer to call at the headquarters
of a command or post and register his name, etc.
It is the custom of the service for a visiting officer
to repeat this call socially, at the quarters of the
Commanding Officer, within the first twenty-four
hours after his arrival. If in the post for a few
hours only, the second call may be omitted.
Custom requires all officers in a post, garrison or
camp to call promptly on a newly-arrived officer,
54 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
whatever his grade. It also requires the new arriv-
al to return these calls promptly. After these first
calls have been exchanged, subsequent calling is reg-
ulated by the desires of the individuals themselves.
Having been entertained by a brother officer, cus-
tom requires that a social call be made upon him
within one week.
It is customary on New Year's Day to call on the
Commanding officer. The full dress uniform, with
side arms, is worn.
Miscellaneous. When walking or riding to-
gether, the junior always places himself on the left
of the senior. If walking, he takes the step of the
senior.
If smoking, the cigar, pipe or cigarette is al-
ways removed from the mouth before saluting or
addressing a senior, or before returning the salute
or address of a junior. The cigar, pipe or cigarette
should not be held in the hand with w r hich the salute
is returned.
The expression "The Commanding Officer de-
sires, etc., is always construed as an unofficial com-
mand.
A junior stands aside to permit a senior to enter
or leave a room ahead of him.
A junior never interrupts a senior in conversa-
tion.
When their paths cross, the junior permits the
senior to pass first. Similarly, a junior, at drill,
should not march his company across the immediate
front of an organization commanded by a senior.
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 55
On the road, he would give the right of way to the
senior.
It is considered an act of courtesy to the adjutant
to speak to him before entering the office of the com-
manding officer.
It is considered an act of courtesy to speak to the
commander of an organization before communicat-
ing verbally with a member of the organization. A
written communication should be addressed through
the commander of the organization.
56 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
CHAPTER IV.
MILITARY DISCIPLINE.
The subject of discipline is the phase of military
training which the beginner generally experiences
the most difficulty in understanding. The reason
for this may be laid principally to the popular and
incomplete understanding of the meaning of the
word, namely, that discipline is punishment, where-
as, as a matter of fact, this conception includes only
a special and secondary application of the word.
Definition. The word discipline is derived from
the word disciple, which means one who accepts the
instruction or doctrine of another. Primarily, to
discipline means to develop by means of instruc-
tion, to educate, to train according to certain estab-
lished rules; secondarily, it means to punish by way
of correction,- and ihe first part of the definition
best expresses the sense in which the term has its
greatest significance in the military service.
Military discipline has been defined by many au-
thorities. In their definitions, these authorities
have generally confined themselves to describing the
condition which we recognize as discipline without
indicating the manner in which it is attained.
Military discipline has been sarcastically defined
as being "The art of inspiring soldiers with more
fear of their own officers than they have for the
enemy."
The one who wrote the foregoing definition had
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 57
evidently observed the outward evidences of disci-
pline, but had not inquired into the means by which
these evidences were attained. He assumed that
obedience, in the face of danger, could only be pre-
served through the medium of the fear of punish-
ment.
Home, in his Precis of Modern Tactics, says,
"The willing subordination of mind and body to the
call of duty implies something more than mere out-
ward obedience to superiors or attention to drill."
Following the same line of thought, Goltz is of
the opinion that the principle source of discipline in
an army is to be sought in moral influence, although
material conditions are not without effect.
Kraft defines discipline as being "that intelligent
obedience which welds the independence of many
individuals into a concentrated whole and into a
real power." This definition embodies briefly the
true spirit of military discipline. It is obvious that
sixty-five men, no matter how highly trained indi-
vidually, acting independently, will not possess the
same offensive or defensive power as when their ef-
forts have been bound together by the bond of discip-
line and concentrated under the direction of one
company commander. Nor will mere blind obed-
ience to the orders of superiors accomplish the nec-
essary concentration of effort; the obedience must
be intelligent.
The following definitions of discipline, by various
authorities, give an idea of discipline from differ-
ent viewpoints :
In his Customs of the Service, General Kautz de-
58 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
fines discipline as, "The preservation of order, the
prevention of all kinds of offense and the faithful
performance of every kind of duty, without delay or
interruption."
In his Organization and Tactics, General Wag-
ner defines it in the following words: ''Discipline
is the quality possessed by efficient soldiers which
causes each to appreciate and accept without ques-
tion the powers and limitations of his rank; which
inspires each with confidence in the military stead-
fastness of his comrades and makes obedience to his
lawful superiors a second nature."
Murray defines it as, "The long continued habit
by which the very muscles of the soldier instinctive-
ly obey the word of command, so that no matter un-
der what circumstances a man hears the word of
command, even if his mind is too confused to attend,
yet his muscles will obey."
Darwin, in his Descent of Man, says of discip-
line, "The superiority which discipline soldiers show
over undisciplined masses is primarily the conse-
quences of the confidence which each has in his com-
rades." It may be added that this confidence is
the result of each man's knowledge of what he and
his comrades are capable of doing when they united
in organized, discipline teamwork.
From the foregoing definitions, it will be seen
that the prevailing idea of military discipline is that
it is a quality which proceeds from education and
training rather than from fear, and this conception
is borne out and emphasized in the Infantry Drill
Regulations in its description of Disciplinary Exer-
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 59
cises. It says, "Disciplinary Exercises are design-
ed to teach precise arid soldierly movement and to
inculcate that prompt and subconscious obedience to
command that is essential to proper military con-
trol."
For our purposes, discipline may therefore be de-
fined as being the habit of intelligent obedience, in-
culcated by education and training, by means of
which order, precision and promptness is insured at
all times.
The Object of Military Discipline. From the
foregoing discussion, we have seen that the object
in general of discipline is to secure intelligent con-
centration of effort. The success of all military
work depends upon the ability of the commander to
enforce his will upon those under him and to cause
them to execute his plans with promptness and pre-
cision. Unless he is able to do this, he cannot em-
bark with assurance upon any plan, however sound,
but must always anticipate the possibility of its fail-
ing through faulty execution. As the size of the
command increases, this condition increases accord-
ingly. The task of handling large bodies of men,
marching them, camping them, supplying them and
maneuvering them in battle is a difficult one even
when the absolute order, precision and promptness
which we call discipline may be relied upon. As
this condition of discipline decreases, the difficul-
ties of the problem multiply enormously, until a
point is finally reached where it becomes a problem
without a possible solution. Without proper dis-
60 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
cipline, control is out of the question and military
employment becomes little more than mob action.
This condition is not peculiar to the military ser-
vice alone. In everything involving united effort,
men must be trained to orderly and concerted ac-
tion before efficiency may be expected. That which
we know in the business w r orld as shop system is
merely discipline under another name. For ex-
ample: in a manufacturing plant, an article may
have to pass through the hands of several workmen
before it is finished. Each workman has a certain
definite task in connection with the making of the
article. Each man's task is analyzed, studied and
reduced to the least number of movements or oper-
ations, and the man is trained until his hands auto-
matically and accurately guide the article through
these operations. It is only when each man who has
a part to play in the making of the article has been
trained to the same precision and accuracy, that all
may work with the maximum efficiency, and that
the establishment may be considered upon basis of
efficiency and economy.
If this order and discipline be considered neces-
sary in commercial life, where labor is performed
day after day under unvarying circumstances, calm-
ly and without distraction, how much greater must
be its necessity in the military service where the sol-
dier's task cannot be reduced to a formula and where
his serious work is invariably accompanied by the
confusion which goes with excitement and the f ear
of bodily injury.
How Evidenced. General Wagner says, "There
Military Character) Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 61
are certain outward signs which are generally evi-
dences of discipline, chief of which are a careful
attention to the requirements of military etiquette
and ceremonious marks of deference to one's law-
ful military superiors. But while these visible evi-
dences of discipline are highly desirable and should
be sedulously cultivated, they must not be confound-
ed with the desired quality itself. The best eviden-
ces of true discipline are found in the unmurmur-
ing endurance of hardships by the soldiers and in
their willing, energetic and intelligent efforts to
perform their whole duty in the presence of the
enemy!'
The most conclusive evidence of discipline is to
be found in the conduct of the soldier when under
fire, and in its description of Fire Discipline, the
Infantry Drill Regulations says, "Fire Discipline
implies that, in a firing line without leaders, each
man retains his presence of mind and directs ef-
fective fire upon the proper target."
The cheerful, intelligent and energetic perfor-
mance of duty under any and all circumstances is
an unfailing evidence of discipline. This means
that the trained and disciplined soldier is expected
to put his best effort into everything he does, en-
deavoring to carry out the spirit of his orders, or, in
the absence of orders, to that thing which he thinks
his officers would want him to do.
Good discipline is generally characterized by
smart and soldierly appearance and by precise and
accurate execution of drill. However, the reverse
is not always true. Many non-military organiza-
(j^ Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
tions, totally without discipline, reach a high de-
gree of smartness and precision in drill.
How Attained. We have seen from the fore-
going discussion that discipline is the product of
proper training, accompanied, as a matter of course,
by judicious correction and restraint. The manner
in which discipline is to be attained and the propor-
tions in which training and correction are to be em-
ployed depends largely upon the men to be trained
and the circumstances under which they are to be
trained.
When dealing with men of intelligence, or with
men who are fired by a great and just purpose, in-
struction and training are needed in greater pro-
portion than correction. The souls of such men
are in their work. Their intelligence and the fix-
edness of their purpose dictate to them the wisdom
of submitting themselves to the control and direct-
tion of their leaders. The inculcation of discipline
in such men is largely a matter of teaching them
what to do, training them to do it efficiently, and of
appealing to their reason and their sense of pride
to do it to the best of their ability.
The manner in which this appeal should be made
depends upon the men themselves, their purpose,
their national characteristics, and the circumstances
under which they find themselves in the military ser-
vice. What will raise the enthusiasm and courage
of mten to fighting pitch at one time may fail com-
pletely under other circumstances; what is calcu-
lated to fire the men of one nation may merely ex-
cite the derision of those of another. Napoleon
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 63
understood the temperament and national character-
istics of his men arid stirred them deeply with dram-
atic addresses. Lord Nelson rightly judged the
temperamental caliber of his men and his laconic
message, "England expects every man to do his
duty," was the most potent appeal he could have
made to them.
General Sherman said, "There is a soul to an
army as well as to an individual man and no gener-
al can accomplish the full work of his army unless
he commands the souls of his men as well as their
bodies and their legs." How well he commanded
the soul of his army is written in the history of
the hardships and dangers through which he was
able to lead them.
In addition to understanding the souls and the
national characteristics of his men, the successful
disciplinarian must pay heed to psychology, must
constantly feel the pulse of his men, must consider
their physical condition, their mental condition, both
in employing them and in administering disciplin-
ary punishment or correction. The leader who at-
tempts to apply an inflexible standard of discipline
to all men at all times must inevitably fail. Disci-
pline must be adapted to circumstances. Men who
are tired and hungry, unduly elated or unduly de-
pressed cannot be subjected to the same standard of
discipline as men who are in normal physical condi-
tion and temper. Hohenlohe, in his Letters on In-
fantry, cites the example of an infantry regiment
that had suffered a repulse in an attack during one
of the battles of the Franco-Prussian War. Both of-
64 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
ficers and men were ashamed, depressed and in fear
of being censured if not punished. A general of-
ficer, observing their condition, rode up and shouted
to the colonel of the regiment, "Bravo, Colonel!
that was a grand deed! The regiment went far-
ther to the front than any. It was not your fault
that the attack failed." The regiment recovered its
spirit and almost immediately thereafter gave am-
ple proof of its mettle.
General Sheridan would have been justified by
every authority in applying the severest disciplin-
ary measure to his fleeing troops at Winchester, and
bearing in mind his reputation as a disciplinarian,
he might reasonably have been expected to do so,
but he knew the temper of his men at the moment
and his shout of "Turn men, we're going back!"
had more effect than a brigade of rifles across their
path.
Disciplinary Training. The Infantry Drill
Regulations indicates briefly the class of instruc-
tion to be used as disciplinary training and, in gen-
eral, the manner in which it is to be employed. It
states that drills executed at attention and the cere-
monies are disciplinary exercises and that smartness
and precision should be exacted in the execution of
every detail. It also prescribes that each field ex-
ercise should be concluded with a brief drill at at-
tention to restore men to smartness and control.
In this connection, it should be pointed out that
the function of these drills and exercises is not al-
ways well understood. Many otherwise excellent
officers seem to fail to appreciate them at their true
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 65
value and deliberately neglect them for the more
attractive and practical field work. To those who
are not familiar with the stern necessity for abso-
lute disciplinary control, the parade and drill ground
drudgery may seem a waste of time and energy. It
may well be asked by the uninitiated: why should
hours, days, even weeks, be spent in teaching a man
to stand in a certain way, to walk after a certain
fashion, or to carry his rifle in a certain position;
what difference does it make whether he faces to the
right about or to the left about; or whether he stands
next in ranks to Smith one day and next to Brown
the following day? Of themselves, we must admit
that these details are not important. As disciplin-
ary training, they are all-important. They are part
of the process by which the man is trained to regard
every detail of military duty as a task requiring
precise and accurate execution ; part of the process
of habituating his muscles to prompt and subcon-
scious obedience to command; in other words; they
are part of the process by which the man is trained
to do his duty accurately and precisely in spite of
himself. It is the process by which the control of
men is insured. The duties of the soldier are not
intricate or difficult of performance. They are
within the grasp of any man of ordinary intelli-
gence, and the object of the exhaustive and reiter-
ated training in their performance is not so much
to teach him how to do them, as to insure that he
will always do them accurately and promptly when
he is told.
The desired condition of disciplinary training
66 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
may be illustrated by the action of a trained sol-
dier in executing the manual of arms. He will ex-
ecute any number of the movements, in whatever
sequence they may be ordered, with machine-like
accuracy and precision, and at the end of the exer-
cise will be unable, except in the most general way,
to describe what he has executed, thus indicating
conclusively that his response to the voice of com-
mand has been almost entirely subconscious.
Without entering into a discussion of the rela-
tive values of disciplinary and field training, it is
sufficient to say that, without control, all training
loses much of its value. Moreover, with men under
proper control, the labor of instructing them and
training them is reduced to the minimum. They
need only be told what to do and how to do it.
Discipline, How Promoted. We have seen that
instruction and training is the first and best method
of promoting discipline. In addition, it may be
promoted by means of judicious rewards for good
work and good conduct and of punishment for poor
work and misbehavior.
One phase of disciplinary instruction has not yet
been touched upon. It is that of the instruction
in orders, regulations and customs of the service.
When the newcomer enters the military service, he
finds himself amid surroundings and in an atmos-
phere entirely new and strange to him. He is con-
fronted by new conditions of life and his conduct
is regulated by an array of rules and regulations
foreign to anything he has known before. Unless
he is carefully instructed in these rules and reg-
Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline 67
ulations, he will unintentionally and constantly vio-
late them, in other words, will learn them only by
breaking them. This will give rise to constant cor-
rection and it will not be long before the recruit
will be convinced that it is impossible for him to do
anything properly ; his simplest task will take on the
character of an intricate and difficult performance
and in the end, he will be discouraged into hopeless
stupidity.
Judicious rewards have the same effect in the mili-
tary service as elsewhere. Men in every walk of
life like to feel that their work is appreciated. The
soldier possibly has more of this feeling than the
average man in civil life, since in civil life good
work brings its own rewards in material form not
possible in the military service. When the soldier
has merely done his duty, there is no occasion to
commend him he has merely done what he has
been paid to do. Undue praise in time will con-
vey to him the idea that his conduct has been ex-
ceptional when he merely does his duty. On the
other hand, to withhold all praise or reward from
him, no matter how faithful his work may be, will
result in discouraging him and leading him to be-
lieve that it does not matter how he does his work.
There is no rule to follow. Each man presents a
different case. When a man has done his duty ex-
ceptionally well, tell him so; if only fairly well, tell
him nothing; if poorly, tell him so. In general the
reward most appreciated by the soldier, is the assur-
ance, conveyed to him in a dignified manner, that he
enjoys the confidence and the esteem; of his seniors.
68 Military Character, Habit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
All men do not enter the service with the idea
of giving faithful service. Many men who are
careless and indifferent, or who are opposed to all
idea of restraint and order find their way into the
service and spend the years of their enlistment in en-
deavoring to evade their duties and responsibili-
ties. With these men discipline must be enforced
by means of punishment. A dread of punishment
must be made to exceed their laziness and their
hatred of restraint. The fear of their officers must
exceed that of the enemy.
In the use of disciplinary punishment, however,
the fundamental idea should be that it is imperson-
al; that it is not inflicted by the individual, but by
the office he holds; that it is not inflicted with the
desire to show superiority or authority, but from a
sense of duty; not for the purpose of injuring, but
for the purpose of correcting.
The Army Regulations prescribe that, "Military
authority will be exercised with firmness, kindness
and justice. Punishments must conform to the law
and follow offenses as promptly as circumstances
will permit. Superiors are forbidden to injure
those under their authority by tyrannical or capri-
cious conduct or by abusive language."
Punishment should be suited to the offender as
well as to the offense. It is the boast of some offic-
ers that all men look alike to them, a statement
equivalent to an admission of inefficiency. No two
men are alike in disposition or temperament any
more than they are in physical appearance, and the
regulations of the military service cannot make them
Military Character, Habit, DepQrtw*jnt&tiutieG$J&^\pttne 69
so. The punishment which may be effective with
one man may merely serve to aggravate another to
further misconduct. There are many cases where
an admonition, properly administered, is of more
value as a corrective measure than a sentence of a
month in the guard house. To make his discipline
effective, the officer must study his men and fit his
punishment to their offenses as he does their clothes
to their bodies.
The mistake is frequently made of thinking that
punishment must be severe in order to be effective.
Such is not the case. Severe punishment is apt to
react and make the man so punished stubborn and
unrepentant; it should be reserved for wilful diso-
bedience and misbehavior. If in doubt as to which
of two punishments to give a man, give him the
lighter of the two, holding the severer one in re-
serve. Statistics show conclusively that in armies
where the code of disciplinary punishments is severe
and inflexible, the discipline is correspondingly low
and the reverse. It is said on the best of authority
that the standard of discipline was never higher in
the German Army than during the period immed-
iately preceding and during the Franco-Prussian
War when their code of punishment was exceed-
ingly mild. On the other hand, Farrar, in his
Military Manners, says, "The conduct of the Brit-
ish Army was never worse than in the days when
1000 lashes were common sentences."
The essential feature of disciplinary punishment
should not be severity, but should be the prompt and
70 MtlHafy Character, H.abit, Deportment, Courtesy, Discipline
unfailing visitation of correction upon those who
deserve it, until it comes to be regarded as the in-
evitable consequence of misconduct, just as a child
comes to regard a painful burn as the consequence
of playing with fire.
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